The most profitable law firms in the United States continued to grow in 2025. The 2026 Am Law 100 rankings show higher revenue and rising partner profits across BigLaw.
According to BCG Attorney Search, the 100 largest U.S. law firms earned $178.95 billion in total revenue. Meanwhile, average profits per equity partner reached $3.59 million.
These results highlight the financial strength of leading law firms. They also show how firms compete for clients, talent, and market share.
Learn more from this report: 2026 Am Law 100 Most Profitable Law Firms
Top Law Firms Lead Profit Rankings
Wachtell ranked first among the most profitable law firms. The firm reported about $12.15 million in profits per equity partner. Kirkland & Ellis ranked second with $11.12 million. Meanwhile, Davis Polk took third place with $9.8 million.
Here are the top 10 firms by profits per equity partner:
- Wachtell — $12.15 million
- Kirkland & Ellis — $11.12 million
- Davis Polk — $9.8 million
- Quinn Emanuel — $9.55 million
- Gibson Dunn — $8.89 million
- Latham & Watkins — $8.65 million
- Paul Weiss — $8.63 million
- Simpson Thacher — $8.57 million
- Paul Hastings — $8.33 million
- Milbank — $7.62 million
These figures reflect the firms’ reported results for 2025. However, profits per equity partner show an average, not each partner’s actual pay. Individual earnings can vary by role, seniority, and performance.
Law Firm Profits Rise
The Am Law 100 firms saw strong growth in 2025. Overall, gross revenue rose by 13%. At the same time, profits per equity partner grew by 14%.
Revenue per lawyer also increased by 8.7%, reaching about $1.39 million. This figure shows how much revenue firms earn for each lawyer.
Furthermore, 94 firms reported higher revenue in 2025. In addition, 62 firms earned more than $1 billion. That number rose from 58 firms the year before.
These results point to broad growth across BigLaw. However, some firms performed better than others. Their results often depend on client demand, legal services, and business plans.
Career Impact
The rankings offer useful insights for lawyers, recruiters, and law students. For example, highly profitable firms may have more resources to hire top talent and expand their teams.
Meanwhile, demand for corporate deals and complex lawsuits can create new jobs for skilled attorneys. As a result, lawyers with strong experience in these areas may find more career options.
However, high profits do not guarantee a better work experience. Lawyers should also consider pay, workload, training, and chances for promotion. In addition, workplace culture can affect long-term career growth.
BigLaw Profits Drive the Market
The 2026 Am Law 100 rankings show the financial strength of leading U.S. law firms. Total revenue reached $178.95 billion, while average profits per equity partner climbed to $3.59 million.
Overall, these results highlight the growing role of profit in the legal market. As firms compete for clients and talent, their financial performance will remain important. For legal professionals, the rankings offer a useful guide to industry trends and career options.
Learn more from this report: 2026 Am Law 100 Most Profitable Law Firms
See Also:
BigLaw Hiring Boom: What Happened to the Class of 2024?The post
2026 Am Law 100: The Most Profitable Law Firms first appeared on
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